to_unix_timestamp function

Applies to: check marked yes Databricks SQL check marked yes Databricks Runtime

Returns the timestamp in expr as a UNIX timestamp.

Syntax 

to_unix_timestamp(expr [, fmt] )

Arguments

  • expr: A STRING expression representing a timestamp.

  • fmt: An optional format STRING expression.

Returns

A BIGINT.

If fmt is supplied, it must conform with Datetime patterns.

If fmt is not supplied, the function is a synonym for cast(expr AS TIMESTAMP).

If fmt is malformed or its application does not result in a well formed timestamp, the function raises an error.

Note

In Databricks Runtime, if spark.sql.ansi.enabled is false, the function returns NULL instead of an error for malformed timestamps.

Examples 

> SELECT to_unix_timestamp('2016-04-08', 'yyyy-MM-dd');
 1460098800